H o n g K o n g

We have a few days in Hong Kong after our trip to Seoul, so we decided to visit of one its many islands - Cheung Chau.

Cheung Chau is Southwest of Hong Kong, and you can reach it by ferry from Central pier. As you can see above, it is a small island, that is shaped like a dumb-bell.

 Spotted a cute girl chatting happily with her grandpa on the ferry.

 We arrived by fast ferry, and the journey took under 45 minutes.

 The landing pier at Cheung Chau.

 Row of shop houses and fast food chains along the esplanade.

 A traditional cake or bread shop. You do not see many of these around anymore in the modern city.

The travel pack decided to leave the island after lunch. I stayed as I wanted to see the village and what the island could offer. Armed with a local map and water, I ventured into the island.

 Interesting to combine the library and market within the same building. Guess loud bargaining is not allowed here.

 There are no vehicles permitted on the street except the 2-wheelers and their 'village vehicle', which is a motorised transport.

 Fishing boats littered the bay.

 Amenities are aplenty, with places to worship too.

 Moving across the island, I come upon this beach fronted with holiday chalets.

 It is nice to spend a few days here, enjoy the beach, peace & quiet.

 Though you must remember to stay away from the shark territory.

 I ascended a hill by trekking a popular trail that is recommended for visitors. 

 The path is better than I thought. A trekking route is usually muddy, if not undulated. This is so thoughtful.

 About 15 minutes into my hike, I realised I was the only person using the trail. Not another soul in sight. What if I got lost, or robbed? The beautiful scenery, however, took all my worries away. 

 I guess if I was not adventurous, I would not see the best of the world. This might not be comparable to the coast of Ireland, but it still a sight to behold.

 More importantly, I have been there, seen it, and captured the scenery in photo form.

 It was actually a nice walk, with florals & faunas to spot along the way. It would be better in a winter morning. The sun was scorching that day.

 Moving inland from the coast, human activity started to appear.

 Nice residential developments amid the quiet environment.

 And one traditional stone entrance of a residence.

 Lychees.... I like!

 

 Lion statues 'guarding' the house.

 I slowly made my way back to the pier after several hours on my own. There were not many visitors to the island so the ferry back to Hong Kong was not crowded.

A tilt-shift shot outside the hotel where we stayed.

Cheung Chau has a laid back feel, where its source of energy come mostly from the visitors on weekends or in summer. That is when the activities arise. I enjoyed the charming village and its old houses, where the residents have made a consensus effort to keep theirs original. It is important that we do not forget the history when the world changes. We need to remember our roots always.

And another travel trip awaiting....

H o n g K o n g

This is our 2nd visit to Hong Kong this year. The previous trip was considered unfruitful in terms of my adventure and photography fix. I have to see more of this city as it has an amazing arrays of scenery and activities. And I definitely got it from this trip.

 We arrived at night and were greeted by the Christmassy atmosphere that has decorated the town. What a tall tree at Times Square!

 And the stars glitter around The Peninsula. No, we did not stay here. I wish we could but we need a big sponsor.

 We stayed at the Hotel Harbour Plaza Metropolis, overlooking the Hong Kong Coliseum with partial sea view. Not that bad right?

 Sharon needed to visit a friend who teach in Singapore International School near Aberdeen. So that is our first stop for the day.

 The school sits on the hill and offers a wonderful view.

 The school is very well run with creative programs and is equipped with facilities that any child could ask for

 Mask artwork on display. Even the not so 'desirable' ones.  

Hand prints of students were made into a painting along this passage.

 Assembly & sports hall. Mind you, it is air-conditioned.

Wow, a full lap pool. Compare with the primary school at home, the students here are darned lucky.

 From Aberdeen, we stopped next at Stanley. The wife never got sick of this place, as she could pick up more paintings. Found this temple with bright red doors. 

 With the Generals guarding the 天后古庙

Is this the legendary 姑婆屋, where the spinsters live out their remaining life?

 Folks meet and chat the day away. What else to do then?

 And this I called an open concept home.

It is so hard to get a sharp photo in low lights, without a tripod. I resort to hit & run shots, and hope for the best. Tonight, nothing was good enough.

 I have always wanted to island hop in Hong Kong. It has so many islands where we can visit and today, we visited Lamma Island (南丫島). We boarded a ferry from Central and the ride took about 20 minutes.

 We arrived at the pier and the first thing we noticed was the bicycles that lined on both sides of the jetty. There is no automotive vehicle in this island and the only mode of transport is by foot or a bicycle.

 Self-styled houses in front of your own plantations. You eat what you sow.

 And large semi-detached houses where many were rented out to expatriates.

 Our 4-legged friend taking a walk by himself

 Let me out, and I promised I won't bite....pleaseee.

 A lazy morning nap. Come to think of it, they nap anytime they want.

I am on the look out for cats, so you cannot hide, my friend.

 View of the harbour front 

 We stopped for bean curd that tasted so smooth and nice. What a relief from the long walk. Better have another bowl for the remaining walk.

 A hiking trail of 4km to guide you along. The common route is to arrive at Yung Shue Wan, and walk over a hilly range to reach Sok Kwu Wan.

 We passed a beach along the way, but since it is winter, it is too cold to swim.

 But visitors still turned up in full force to enjoy a day out to this beautiful island.

   What a nice view.

 And if you want something challenging, this is way to do it. Down the hill at break neck pace! Hope his brakes work.

 More scenic view, and a pavilion to rest your tired feet.

 There are many lookout points along the trail, and this one points you to Sok Kwu Wan.

 Another break to take, so that the girls could get their shopping desire fixed.

Arriving at Sok Kwu Wan for seafood lunch before catching the afternoon ferry back. 

Back to the concrete jungle of Hong Kong island.

 We spent part of our last day at Victoria Peak. Instead of taking the tram, we decided to board the double decker bus up. Along the way, we saw a demonstration. For us, it is highly unusual. For the Hong Kongers, their rights are highly regarded.

 Have to take a shot of the harbour before the sun go down.

 And another one with a moon over it.

Reverse view to capture Aberdeen Harbour.

I must say this is a better trip than the one I had in March. The trip to Lamma Island has to be the highlights as the experience itself is awesome. I certainly enjoyed the laid back part of HK than the usual touristy attractions.

And another travel trip awaiting....